December 16, 2023

Wife of Israeli hostage: 'We begged war cabinet, warning that fighting might harm the hostages, unfortunately

we were right'

Raz Ben-Ami, who was released in the previous exchange and is the wife of Israeli hostage Ohad Ben Ami: "We begged the war cabinet, warning that fighting might harm the hostages, unfortunately, we were right."

This follows yesterday's killing of three hostages by IDF soldiers, who mistakenly thought they were terrorists. Speaking at a protest in the newly renamed Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, Ben Ami called on the government to propose an outline for the return of additional hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.

"Israel must lay down another blueprint and harness the world to its advancement," she said. "The return of the hostages in exchange for prisoners is urgent and critical. Initiative is strength and not weakness. I beg you, you promised to bring those kidnapped alive, why are you waiting?"

Danny Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzhak Elgarat, spoke at the rally saying that the government decided that returning the hostages is one of the war's goals. But despite this, "we have to chase them and beg them to do it," he said. "We decided that if they don't come to us, we will come to them. And so we are waiting to hear from them tonight if they have some kind of outline, some kind of deal, I don't understand why they are waiting? Are they waiting for Yahya Sinwar to grow human values? We see what is happening here, we receive body after body, coffin after coffin."

Robbie Chen, the father of the hostage Itai Chen, said that he met with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss the return of the hostages, after which he spoke with families in Israel to understand what is happening in the country. "They tell me, 'We don't know, we try to talk to the cabinet and nothing,'" he said, "It's easier to meet the U.S. president than the war cabinet. Did we fall on our heads?"

*bolding mine

From Haaretz updates

December 16, 2023

If Settler Violence Wasn't Enough, Israel Is Now Depriving Jordan Valley Palestinians of Water

Since the start of the war, some 20 Palestinian families have been forced out of their homes in the Jordan Valley by heightened settler violence. Meanwhile, the army denies the shepherd communities access to water. Israeli volunteers are trying to protect them day and night

From Haaretz by Gideon Levy and Alex Levac

Twelve forty-five, this past Monday, in the northern Jordan Valley. The northern section of the Allon Road (Highway 578) is deserted, as usual, but by the roadside, between the settlements of Ro'i and Beka'ot, a small convoy of water tanks, pulled by tractors and trucks, is standing and waiting. And waiting. Waiting till the sheep come home. Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces were supposed to come a few hours ago to open the iron gate, but the IDF isn't showing up and isn't calling either, as the song goes. When the number listed by the army on the yellow gate is called, the phone on the other side of the line is answered and then immediately disconnected. An activist with Machsom Watch: Women for Human Rights, Tamar Berger, has tried three times this morning, and each time, as soon as she identified herself, the other side slammed the phone down demonstratively. The Palestinian drivers are afraid to call.

This is the time of the yellow wind, the time of the water carriers in the northern Jordan Valley, who are compelled to wait for hours upon hours until the army force that holds the key arrives and opens the gate for those hauling the water to enter. In this parched region, Israel doesn't allow the Palestinian residents to hook up to any water supply network: They and their sheep must depend on the expensive water that's transported in the tanks, and the drivers of the trucks and the tractors are totally dependent on a soldier with a key.

SNIP

The soldier with the rifle that's aimed at us chews his donut lazily, one hand holding it, the other on the trigger. All together now: "Maoz tzur yeshuati" – "O mighty stronghold of my salvation." The truck with the animal feed doesn't get through. No coordination. An officer wearing a kippa is summoned to the site and from a distance takes our picture with his phone.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit, in response to an inquiry from Haaretz about the irregular operation of the checkpoint: "In the wake of a number of security events that have occurred here, the gate was blocked in part. Passage through the gate is with coordination only, and is permitted according to the operational situation appraisal in the sector."

SNIP

One family left, the volunteers relate, after settlers from Shadmot Mehola and their Shabbat guests from a religious boarding school at Kibbutz Tirat Zvi broke the arm of the father of the family. "Two weeks ago," explains Gutterman, "when three friends of ours were here, settlers roused the whole tent camp at 2:30 A.M. with shouts and flashlights, and frightened everyone. Then they started to plow a plot of private land that had recently been declared 'abandoned land.'"

Less than two weeks ago, two volunteers were attacked here. One was beaten with a club and was pepper-sprayed in his eyes, the other took a stone to the head. "There is a campaign of ethnic cleansing going on here," Gutterman says.

…

This is a long article that I only could use snippets. But about something I had no idea about. For me - frightening and brings home how much we don’t know about how Palestinians live - with so much attention on Gaza many forget how difficult it is in other areas of Israel as well. Thank goodness for the brave Jewish volunteers who attempt to help these shepherds

If interested in learning more than just tweets - I recommend reading the whole article.

https://archive.is/u9pPt]

December 14, 2023

Final Night of Chanukah - Prayer to add to candle lighting for those asking for peace and ceasefire

CANDLE 8:
ZICHRONAM LIVRACHA: IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED

We honor the memories of every Israeli and Palestinian who has been killed.
We know that each life is a precious world unto itself.
We mourn all of these deaths deeply.
We face the massive and still rising death toll in Gaza which includes thousands of children and we call for a political solution rather than more bombing.
May the memories of every person killed be a blessing to all who loved them and may we honor their memories by acting for lasting peace and justice.

Oseh Shalom liturgy from the siddur

ונילע םולש השעי אוה וימורמב םולש השוע
לבת יבשוי לכ לעו לארשי לכ לעו
ןמא :ורמאו

Oseh shalom bimromav
Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu
V'al kol Yisrael, v’al kol yoshvei tevel
V'imru: amen.

May the One who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all Israel, and to all people on earth. And we say: Amen.

*Again apologies for not being able to format the Hebrew right indented correctly

From Rabbis For Ceasefire

December 14, 2023

CNN journalist, first independent journalist in Gaza not taken on tour with IDF. Rare access seeing firsthand effects

https://twitter.com/OmarJimenez/status/1735300676635271366?s=20]

December 13, 2023

Israeli hostage families demand immediate clarification from Netanyahu over apparent decision to halt

deal negotiations.

The families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza demanded "immediate clarification" from Netanyahu over the decision by Israel's war cabinet to suspend the planned trip by the head of the Mossad to Qatar, where he was set to conduct talks on a second hostage deal.

The families reportedly were "shocked" over the report that Mossad chief David Barnea's request to draw up an agreement for the hostages' release was rejected by the cabinet, and demanded an urgent update from the government.

In their response to the decision, the families demanded an "immediate end to the the deadlock in negotiations," and said they were "at their wits' end with the indifference and stagnation" over what they described as a daily "Russian roulette in which families are informed about the murder of [loved ones held] hostage in captivity."

From Haaretz Updates.

https://archive.is/CItsX]

I can't imagine their anguish.

December 13, 2023

This AM, the Jerusalem Municipality demolished 4 buildings in E. Jerusalem

Daniel Seidemann is an attorney in Jerusalem that specializes in legal and public issues in East Jerusalem, particularly those related to government and municipal policies and practices. He is founder of the NGO Terrestial Jerusalem and has been conducting ongoing discussions on Jerusalem issues within the Arab world and with Christian faith communities in North America and Europe. He is a Director of the Jerusalem Peace Initiative.

He is a voice worth listening to for those inclined.

https://twitter.com/DanielSeidemann/status/1734956387975782739?s=20]

December 13, 2023

Day 7 For those seeking peace - Chanunkah prayer to add to the lighting of the candles

CANDLE 7: ACTION IS THE ONLY RECOGNIZABLE FEATURE OF HOPE

We see hope in practice through the Chanukah story of the miracle of light that lasted longer than anyone thought it possibly could. The people lit their menorah even when they did not know how they would find enough oil to keep the flames burning. Just as in the Chanukah story, we act out of a hope, out of a vision of a world redeemed, where all people are free. May we find our way to hope through action.

Al Hanisim
liturgy from the siddur, sung on Hanukkah

ןקרפה לעו םיסנה לע
תועושתה לעו תורובגה לעו
וניתובאל תישעש תואלפנה לעו
הזה ןמזב םהה םימיב

Al hanissim, v’al hapurkan,
v’al hag’vurot v’al hat’tshuot
v’al haniflaot sh’asita lavoteinu
bayamim hahem baz’man hazeh.

We thank You also for the miracles,
for the redemption, for the mighty deeds
and saving acts, wrought by You,
as well as for the miracles You waged
for our ancestors in days of old, and in this time.

*AGAIN - My apologies for not being able to format the Hebrew correctly - I cannot find how to right indent paragraphs. Thanks for Donkees hint - still not correctly done for Hebrew . . . but we tried.

Reprinted from Rabbis For Ceasefire

December 13, 2023

Shlomo Karhi, Minister of Communications, says it straight out and clearly

https://twitter.com/shlomo_karhi/status/1734631075043778670?s=20]

This part . . .

The historical estate of our ancestors. There will be no Palestinian state here. We will never allow another state to be established between the Jordan and the sea. We will never go back to Oslo.

Endless war, forever occupation, terror threats for Israelis and Palestinians. Somewhere there has to be hope. I just don't see it.

December 12, 2023

Ceasefire Votes By Country

December 12, 2023

Israel Begins Pumping Seawater Into Hamas's Gaza Tunnels - Per Wall Street Journal

They are the only ones reporting it - although other news agencies are quoting it. Dear God I pray this is not true. I cannot imagine the horror the hostage families are feeling in Israel now.

Israel’s military has begun to pump seawater into Hamas’s vast complex of tunnels in Gaza, according to U.S. officials briefed on the Israeli military’s operations, part of an intensive effort to destroy the underground infrastructure that has underpinned the group’s operations.

The move to flood the tunnels with water from the Mediterranean, which is in an early stage, is just one of several techniques Israel is using to try to clear the tunnels and destroy them.

A spokesperson for the Israeli defense minister declined to comment, saying the tunnel operations are classified.

... more in article

Link to read free: https://archive.is/TRqMS#selection-703.0-717.113]